There isn't any coach better at X's and O's, and particularly with implementing a stellar defensive system. Yes, Thibs is the #1 best strategic coach in the league, IMO.

BUT...his one flaw does scare me at times and keeps him from being greater than he is. Like others have mentioned, he is way too lax with his players' minutes. It's a miracle that Luol Deng has played 40 minutes per game the past 2.5 seasons with only minimal injuries to show for it. And look at Noah, he is already breaking down due to the 38-40 minutes per game he's playing this year, and that was with him coming into training camp the best shape of his life. I mean come on, there literally has not been a big man play those level of minutes in the past 10 years (Duncan in 2002, I believe). And how often does he still have our starters in the game when we're up 15-20 points with less than 3 minutes to play? Yeah it's still technically a loseable game but you sacrifice that possibility for the greater good during regular season games. Thibs just doesn't seem to appreciate the value of rest/recovery, and I'm afraid it's going to always haunt him come playoff time with a broken down team every year.

I agree that his use of players is shocking in terms of minutes but its not like players in the past never played huge minutes.

I think the difference today is that we view our players more like they are commodities and not actual people.

Wilt Chamberlain averaged 45.8 mpg over the course of his career. Noah is 27 years old and playing 38mpg, Wilt was playing 46 minutes a game at the same age, and playing over 43mpg at age 36 in the 70's.

From 09-12 Noah is averaging 30.1 mpg, Dikembe Mutombo in his first 10 years in the league averaged 36 mpg. Thibs has got an old school mentality, its not like what hes doing is unheard of in the NBA. I just think we haven't seen players play this many minutes in a long time. Heck, Michael Jordan damn near played almost 40mpg at AGE 40!

Thibs definitely got way too little love in the voting race, but at the same time, everybody speaks highly of him so it isn't like this really matters in terms of his perception throughout the league or with the media.

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Jalen Rose - "Positions were created so the novice could follow the game. You ARE your skillset."

I'll preface by saying that I don't think any of us are really qualified to judge this.

IMO, there are several guys who both underrstand the Xs and Os and also seem to have the ability to relate to their multi-millionaire players. These include Popovich, Rivers, Karl and Thibodeau. Of course, Karl didn't win a COY award until his front office had rid his roster of any superstars. Popovich and Thibodeau have essentially been "one superstar" head coaches, Pops with Duncan and Thibodeau with Rose. Both of those superstars are at the far end of the coachability spectrum. Rivers won a COY with DHoward as his superstar and then won a title (but not another COY) by reaching an understanding with Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen.

I happen to believe that the ability to develop a "meeting of the minds" with your top player(s) trumps X and O knowledge by a lot. This is why Scott Skiles, who gets the intricacies of the game as well as anyone, has such a limited shelf life.

Since Rivers has successfully handled multiple superstars, I'll give him the nod as the current best in the bidness.

Doc rivers is notas good a coach as Thibs. I guarantee you Rivers would not have taken this team as far as thibd has. Look at how shitty the roster looks, yet they find ways to win and while you can put a lot of that on nate Robinson, he was a Thibs pick up.

I am not and never have been worried about Thibodeau tuning out his players.

He is a far more likeable coach than Skiles. I think Bulls fans get the jitters b/c they remember Skiles' abrasive personality so well. Thibs has his "hard ass" side to him, but I believe he also knows when to take the foot off the gas when it comes to personality management. Take Noah for example, Skiles would never know when to get off his back, whereas I think Thibs lets Noah be himself most of the time and will just pick and choose when to apply the pressure.

I also think the players genuinely respects Thibs' ability to make them better players. Rose, Deng, Jimmy, Noah, Nate, even Boozer...have all become more complete players under Thibs. No doubt they recognize that.